Volunteerism through the Arts
Posted 06-14-2009 at 11:40 AM by Jennifer Steele Saunders
I wanted to post this letter I received from American for the Arts President & CEO Robert Lynch talking about the National Summer Service Initiative.
Volunteerism is strong and evident in Walton County, from eliminating poverty with Habitat for Humanity to protecting the welfare of animals at the Alaqua Animal Refuge to providing health services to children through the Children's Volunteer Health Network.
The Cultural Arts Association of Walton County is an organization that would not be in existence and certainly not with such longevity without the tremendous efforts made by hundreds of dedicated volunteers each year for the past twenty-one years. Founded by volunteers, the CAA is proof of how an entire community can be strengthened, if not changed forever, by the work of people like you and me.
And take a look at the upcoming event called "Transformations," a benefit for the Alaqua Animal Refuge. "The concept of 'Transformations,' simply put, is second chances," says the AAR website. "Celebrated local artists and artisans have been invited to repurpose existing work (cast offs, unfinished pieces) into totally new, reformatted artwork…providing a second chance to reveal the true beauty and value in something rejected or overlooked, similar to what happens when Alaqua is able to place an animal into a new and loving home. The animal, just like the art, has been transformed!"
None of these artists for "Transformations" are being paid as are none of the organizers, and this event is a great example of what Lynch discusses in his letter of how "arts organizations, local and state arts agencies, business committees for the arts, art education groups, and others already engage volunteers using the arts to help solve such broad community problems."
You may have an extremely busy work and family schedule. You may not be passionate about one or more local organizations. Or you may just not know about any volunteer opportunities. But I urge you to try to get involved. This doesn't mean you have to join a Board of Directors; just start small.
Hang publicity posters one afternoon or sell concessions one night for the Seaside Repertory Theatre. Usher for a Sinfonia performance. Help kids make butterfly wings at the Flutterby Festival. The Cultural Arts Association website nearly always has a call for volunteers.
If you are reading this and you work or volunteer for an organization, I urge you to visit the Service Intitiative website, www.serve.org, to post your volutneer opportunities as the CAA has done.
And if you already are a volunteer, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. You can not be thanked enough.
The Cultural Arts Association will also post any volunteer opportunities on SoWal and our own website, www.culturalartsassociation.com. Please visit it often as we have fun and simple ways to get involved in supporting our community through the arts.
Here's Lynch's letter...
June 11, 2009
At the end of May, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting with First Lady Michelle Obama and a number of federal officials, where we discussed the Obama administration's vision for volunteer service for the summer of 2009. I thanked the First Lady for having the arts at the table and pointed out that the arts sector has a long history of community volunteer action.
In fact, there is a great untold story about the impactful volunteerism that already exists at arts organizations across the country. There are also countless stories of artists volunteering in nontraditional settings such as hospitals, juvenile centers, and public housing venues. Now is the time to tell our important story, and now is the time for arts organizations nationwide to increase opportunities for volunteers to get involved in order to help stabilize the arts during this economic downturn.
Today, I am co-hosting a conference call with leaders from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for National & Community Service to ensure that more than 100 national arts service organizations can learn more about opportunities for arts groups to participate in a major White House summer service initiative. Details about the summer service initiative will be announced nationally by President Obama. Once these details are released, Americans for the Arts will help organize a much larger second conference call in order to give local and statewide arts organizations and others the specific tools to quickly get involved with this national initiative.
The White House summer service initiative specifically focuses on economic recovery and service in the four areas of energy efficiency, education and literacy, healthcare access, and community renewal. What many people do not fully realize is the extent to which arts organizations, local and state arts agencies, business committees for the arts, art education groups, and others already engage volunteers using the arts to help solve such broad community problems.
I urge our Americans for the Arts members, as well as our colleagues in the larger arts community, to participate in this upcoming summer service initiative. With the public attention I believe that the President and First Lady will bring to the effort, it will be worth our time to ensure that the arts are well represented.
Here are some preliminary action steps that you can take:
Sincerely,
Robert L. Lynch
President & CEO
Volunteerism is strong and evident in Walton County, from eliminating poverty with Habitat for Humanity to protecting the welfare of animals at the Alaqua Animal Refuge to providing health services to children through the Children's Volunteer Health Network.
The Cultural Arts Association of Walton County is an organization that would not be in existence and certainly not with such longevity without the tremendous efforts made by hundreds of dedicated volunteers each year for the past twenty-one years. Founded by volunteers, the CAA is proof of how an entire community can be strengthened, if not changed forever, by the work of people like you and me.
And take a look at the upcoming event called "Transformations," a benefit for the Alaqua Animal Refuge. "The concept of 'Transformations,' simply put, is second chances," says the AAR website. "Celebrated local artists and artisans have been invited to repurpose existing work (cast offs, unfinished pieces) into totally new, reformatted artwork…providing a second chance to reveal the true beauty and value in something rejected or overlooked, similar to what happens when Alaqua is able to place an animal into a new and loving home. The animal, just like the art, has been transformed!"
None of these artists for "Transformations" are being paid as are none of the organizers, and this event is a great example of what Lynch discusses in his letter of how "arts organizations, local and state arts agencies, business committees for the arts, art education groups, and others already engage volunteers using the arts to help solve such broad community problems."
You may have an extremely busy work and family schedule. You may not be passionate about one or more local organizations. Or you may just not know about any volunteer opportunities. But I urge you to try to get involved. This doesn't mean you have to join a Board of Directors; just start small.
Hang publicity posters one afternoon or sell concessions one night for the Seaside Repertory Theatre. Usher for a Sinfonia performance. Help kids make butterfly wings at the Flutterby Festival. The Cultural Arts Association website nearly always has a call for volunteers.
If you are reading this and you work or volunteer for an organization, I urge you to visit the Service Intitiative website, www.serve.org, to post your volutneer opportunities as the CAA has done.
And if you already are a volunteer, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. You can not be thanked enough.
The Cultural Arts Association will also post any volunteer opportunities on SoWal and our own website, www.culturalartsassociation.com. Please visit it often as we have fun and simple ways to get involved in supporting our community through the arts.
Here's Lynch's letter...
June 11, 2009
At the end of May, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting with First Lady Michelle Obama and a number of federal officials, where we discussed the Obama administration's vision for volunteer service for the summer of 2009. I thanked the First Lady for having the arts at the table and pointed out that the arts sector has a long history of community volunteer action.
In fact, there is a great untold story about the impactful volunteerism that already exists at arts organizations across the country. There are also countless stories of artists volunteering in nontraditional settings such as hospitals, juvenile centers, and public housing venues. Now is the time to tell our important story, and now is the time for arts organizations nationwide to increase opportunities for volunteers to get involved in order to help stabilize the arts during this economic downturn.
Today, I am co-hosting a conference call with leaders from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for National & Community Service to ensure that more than 100 national arts service organizations can learn more about opportunities for arts groups to participate in a major White House summer service initiative. Details about the summer service initiative will be announced nationally by President Obama. Once these details are released, Americans for the Arts will help organize a much larger second conference call in order to give local and statewide arts organizations and others the specific tools to quickly get involved with this national initiative.
The White House summer service initiative specifically focuses on economic recovery and service in the four areas of energy efficiency, education and literacy, healthcare access, and community renewal. What many people do not fully realize is the extent to which arts organizations, local and state arts agencies, business committees for the arts, art education groups, and others already engage volunteers using the arts to help solve such broad community problems.
I urge our Americans for the Arts members, as well as our colleagues in the larger arts community, to participate in this upcoming summer service initiative. With the public attention I believe that the President and First Lady will bring to the effort, it will be worth our time to ensure that the arts are well represented.
Here are some preliminary action steps that you can take:
- <LI class=MsoNormal>Post and sponsor existing and/or new summer service opportunities on www.serve.gov. These opportunities can be arts specific or targeted to the four service areas above. <LI class=MsoNormal>Link to www.serve.gov from your homepage. <LI class=MsoNormal>Stay tuned to participate in the local and state arts organization conference that Americans for the Arts is coordinating with the Corporation for National & Community Service and the National Endowment for the Arts later this month. More information will follow in the coming weeks.
- Take a leadership role locally by sharing news of this upcoming initiative with your networks and members and connecting your local volunteer endeavors to President Obama’s national announcement.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Lynch
President & CEO
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Well-stated, Jennifer! There are so many opportunities to volunteer in South Walton, or wherever you may live. My problem is not figuring out how to be involved in one, rather, it is trying to figure out how to be a part of each of the many programs.Posted 06-14-2009 at 12:56 PM by Smiling JOe
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